The battery lives of gadgets ranging from smartphones to tablets to notebooks might have improved dramatically over the past few years, but that has not cut our dependency on the trusted power bank. Rare indeed is the person who still does not keep one of these battery first- (and sometimes even second-) aid providers handy for those moments when even the most big-batteried of our digital pals run out of juice. But getting a power bank comes with its own challenges. Power banks with big capacities tend to be bulky, and those that can charge a device speedily tend to come with expensive price tags. Then there is the matter of having enough ports and the issue of charging the power bank itself. Finding a power bank that is compact yet plentiful in terms of battery, and charges devices fast is a rarity. Finding one that does not come with a stiff price tag is almost an impossibility.
Well, until now. Stuffcool’s Mega Power Bank just got a massive price cut. The power bank which is generally priced in the vicinity of Rs 2500 – Rs 2999, is now available at some retailers for Rs 1,499 and even lower. And at that price, take it from us, it is hands down the most perfect power bank you can get for about a thousand Rupees.
A pocketful of charging power and speed
The digital display offers a quick insight on battery level (Express Photo)
If that sounds like an exaggeration, then consider what the Mega brings to the gadget charging table. First and foremost, it is incredibly compact and light – it is just 8 cm long and 6 cm wide, and weighs only 180 grams. You literally can slip it into your jacket or even trouser pocket, and do not have to worry about it breaking airline regulations for in-flight baggage. It also comes with a matte finish on the front and back, which will not pick up stains and smudges. In spite of its small form factor, it still packs in a very respectable 10000 mAh of battery, so it can easily recharge an iPhone 15 twice.
That’s only part of it. The Mega comes with two ports – a USB Type-A and USB Type-C. While the Type A port can charge a device at a very respectable 18W, it is the Type-C port that makes this power bank special – it charges devices at a staggering 30-33W. That means this tiny power bank can charge your iPhone 15 (review) or Galaxy S24 at the same speed as a wall power outlet. Not only that, the maximum charging speed of 33W (the package says 30W, but we are told it can go up to 33W) means that this tiny power-laden package can actually even charge a MacBook Air from the Type-C port. It can also charge most tablets very quickly indeed. Finally, it can itself get charged at a speed of 30W from that Type-C port.
Charges phones, tablets…and a MacBook Air too
It can also charge Apple MacBook Air (Express Photo)
Breaking this down into everyday usage, the Stuffcool Mega can get an iPhone 15 up to 50 per cent in about half an hour, and an S24 Ultra to about 40 per cent in the same time. It also charged the iPad Air (2022) to 30 per cent in about half an hour. The speed of charging is the most impressive part of the power bank in our book – you can literally plug it in for 10-15 minutes and in the case of almost all phones, get enough battery to see you out for a few hours quite comfortably. Of course, it cannot charge a MacBook Air (review) quite as fast, but it took our M1 MacBook Air from zero to about 30 per cent before running out.
Finally, if you charge the power bank itself using a 33W charger, you can get it recharged in about three hours, which is very fast for a 10000 mAh power bank. In a neat touch, Stuffcool has provided a LCD display which shows you the percentage of battery left in the power bank, a welcome change from the general trend of placing a row of blinking LEDs. There is a short Type C to Type C cable in the box, which is handy enough for charging gadgets, although it might prove to be a little too short for charging the power bank itself, if the wall power outlet is at a lower level (as it often is). Some might find just two ports on the power bank to be too few, but we found them adequate and well, we are more than content with getting two ports on such a compact device!
Pocketable, powerful, pacey…and not pricey (for now, at least!)
It can charge up to two devices at the same time (Express Photo)
We would have recommended the Stuffcool Mega even at its official price of Rs 2,999 as a great option for those who want a power bank with a decent capacity (5000 mAh does not cut it any more) that is super easy to carry and yet charges devices very fast indeed. It is rare to find power banks at below Rs 2500 with charging at speeds of 30W – most are 18W or 22.5W. At a price that is close to Rs 1,000, from a brand as well-established as Stuffcool, the Mega is an absolute steal. Our recommendation is simple: get it before its price goes up again, although we are reliably informed it will not increase on Amazon for a few more weeks at least. It is the perfect power bank for those who value portability and speed!
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
